Referral to cancer specialists

Once your diagnosis has been confirmed, your doctor will refer you to any of the following specialists:

• specialist surgeon
• oncologist - a doctor who specialises in treating cancer
• haematologist - a doctor who specialises in treating diseases of the blood.

There are five public hospitals throughout the Northern Territory (NT) and one private hospital located in Darwin. 

Oncology (cancer) services are provided at three of these hospitals - Royal Darwin, Alice Springs and Darwin Private Hospitals. 

The Alan Walker Cancer Care Centre  is located within the Royal Darwin Hospital premises. 

It provides NT patients with professional, high quality radiation therapy treatment as well as an out-patient chemotherapy unit, specialist out-patients clinics and allied health cancer specialist staff. 

Treatment for some cancers will involve referral to interstate cancer treatment centres as not all can be treated in the NT.

Your treatment plan

Your specialist will talk to you about your options for treatment and will decide what your treatment plan will be. They will take your preferences for treatment into account.

Treatment planning involves all aspects of cancer care including all of the following:

• surgery
• chemotherapy
• radiation
• physiotherapy
• occupational therapy
• dietetics
• speech pathology
• audiology
• social work
• psychology.

Go to treatment options for more information about different types of treatment. 

When you need to travel interstate

There are certain types of cancer and treatments that are not available in the NT.

These include all of the following:

• central nervous system cancer
• some types of blood cancer
• rare types of cancer
• cancer in children
• cancer that require specialist treatment.

You may be eligible for financial help with accommodation and transport if you need to travel for treatment. Go to the Patient Assistance Travel Scheme for more information.